Having spotted the same woman everywhere they go in time and space, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby (Millie Gibson) arrive at the headquarters of UNIT to try and figure out what’s going on. Ruby’s mysterious origins seem to also be a factor in the weird goings-on, so they use some fancy UNIT tech to investigate further; but their meddling could spell danger for the entire universe. Remember: there’s always a Twist at the end.

This is a riveting episode, with some absolutely stunning revelations and one hell of a sustained build-up in the climactic scene. It’s probably the scariest and most intense that Doctor Who has been for a while, and it shows that Russell T. Davies has definitely not lost his edge when it comes to stunning cliffhangers.

Who could forget the stunningly unexpected regeneration in The Stolen Earth or the reveal of the Time Lords in The End of Time Part 1?

One thing those two stories, not to mention numerous other RTD two parters, have in common is that the resolution is often pretty unsatisfactory, unfortunately.

For the moment though, let’s just focus on the way that the threat and reveal in The Legend of Ruby Sunday is built up and executed; it’s absolutely incredible and genuinely terrifying, with some really big hints, clues and even red herrings having been dropped not just in this specific episode, but throughout the season too.

The extended cast of characters at UNIT and earthbound threat give this episode a very welcome, Third Doctor-esque feel; played by Jon Pertwee, his run on the show, where he’s banished to Earth by the Time Lords and works aside a recurring cast of wonderful characters at UNIT, is very much echoed here. Just like in that 70s era for Who, UNIT feel like an extended family for the Doctor in this episode too.

It’s wonderful to see 80s companion Mel (Bonnie Langford) returning after her appearance in The Giggle, for example, working undercover for UNIT; but there’s the ever reliable and fantastic Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), daughter of the old UNIT field head The Brigadier (played in the Pertwee run and beyond by the much missed Nicholas Courtney), child genius Morris Gibbons (though stuck repeating exposition at points, I was impressed by the young Lenny Rush’s performance), Rose Noble (an underused Yasmin Finney) and several more.

Given how Finney is so underused in the episode and just how many familiar (and new) faces there are at UNIT, it is guilty of being a bit overstuffed with characters at times, but no doubt the survivors will get their time to shine at some point, perhaps even as soon as next week’s season finale.

Susan Twist is fantastic here too, having been spotted everywhere, in various roles, as far back as the second 60th anniversary episode, Wild Blue Yonder. She definitely gets her time in the spotlight here, and she’s very good indeed as tech company head, Susan Triad.

Does it even need to be said that Gatwa and Gibson are absolutely incredible in this episode? Though Gibson got an entire episode to show off what she could do in 73 Yards, Gatwa felt somewhat underutilised until last week’s Rogue, but he’s had some scenes dotted throughout the season that have had my jaw on the floor (the final scene of Dot and Bubble, for example, was an absolute highlight for Gatwa’s Doctor). Once more here, he infuses his scenes with an infectious energy and enthusiasm, but also plays the more emotional and intense sequences masterfully, having the viewer in the palm of his hand throughout.

It’s a fantastic, brilliantly constructed episode (though a late reveal of a certain character’s name is unintentionally hilarious, given how on the nose it is, as well as how UNIT mock how obviously noticeable the ‘S Triad’ anagram is) that feels more like classic Who than the majority of this season has so far; of course, classic Who on a Disney budget, which is to say that it looks stunning too.

Though I have my reservations about RTD being able to pull off a satisfying resolution, for now, the strength of the final sequence and its cliffhanger is putting me in mind of a different era of TV altogether; where the next episode wasn’t simply available to move onto and where speculation on what could happen next filled the playgrounds and offices across the country for the next seven days.

As much as I’ve had fun with this season of Doctor Who, especially with its reluctance to rely on the Greatest Hits of Who’s past (in more ways than one), I can’t deny that it feels great to have an episode that hearkens back to classic Who in so many ways. 

And I could really do with a TARDIS to skip ahead to next week’s finale right now.

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